Study 0 From the Book of
Malachi is: The Introduction of the Book
Introduction
Malachi (the name means ‘my
messenger’---see 3:1) was doubtless a contemporary of Ezra and Nehemiah. He
attacked the evils which arose at Jerusalem after the Temple was rebuilt and
its services re-established, evil of which we have historical record in the
book of Nehemiah. ‘The religious spirit
of Malachi is that of the prayers of is that of the prayers of Ezra and
Nehemiah’. There is an ancient tradition which regarded ‘Malachi’ as a pen name,
and assigned the authorship to Ezra himself.
This book is the more
significant because it closes the Old Testament revelation. As a link between
the law and the gospel, it combines severe insistence on the necessity of
purity and sincerity of heart with the sure promise of the coming of a
Deliverer to those who fear the Lord. Finally (4:4-6), it appeals back to the
law and the prophets (of whom Elijah is the chosen representative). The fuller
revelation will not contradict, its preparatory stages. The people are to find
in the spiritual authorities they already know (i.e., in the Old Testament)
their assurance for accepting Him who should come. So, on the Mount of
Transfiguration, when the Father called men to hear the So, Moses and Elijah
stood by to give their assent and to provide evidence that He was the
fulfilment of all their anticipation. See Mt. 17:3-5; Jn. 5:46.
